Brussels, 26/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The idea of a plan B to rescue all that can be saved from the laborious Doha Round multilateral trade negotiations before the end of the year is gaining ground among negotiators and international organisations. Trade ministers from the 22 member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), meeting in Big Sky (United States) on 19 May, agreed to work between now and the end of the year on how best to save the agreement, said US representative Ron Kirk. “In my view, without abandoning our commitment to the success of the Round, we need to begin a hard-nosed discussion of what can be done. We need to explore what 'next steps' we can take to find a more productive path - and, if we find that path, to take it as quickly as possible”, he said. The WTO, OECD and UNCTAD which, in their report of 24 May on the protectionism of the G20 countries, acknowledge the current deadlock in talks on industrial tariffs, underline that the differing levels of ambition are, in fact, hampering progress and put conclusion of the Round in 2011 in doubt. It is time, they say, to start looking for a way which preserves the objectives and values of the Doha mandate and is of benefit to all members, before the 8th WTO Ministerial Conference in December 2011. (E.H./transl.rt)